A study of methane activation by modified gallium- and zinc-based catalysts

The activation of CH₄ has been probed by studying CH₄ oxidation at ambient pressure over gallium- and zinc-based catalysts prepared by precipitation and modified with Au and Pt. The unmodified gallium- and zinc-based catalysts were both active for CH₄ oxidation. Modification of these catalysts by the addition of Au and Pt, alone and in combination significantly increased the rate of CH₄ oxidation. The 1% Pt/Ga₂O₃ catalyst was the most active of the gallium-based systems. The addition of Au to ZnO markedly increased the activity compared with unmodified ZnO, whilst for Au in combination with Pt the activity was further enhanced due to a synergistic effect of the metals.